BANGALORE: It has been a slow and steady journey for the National Capital Territory(NCT) of Delhi in driving ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for better governance.
The ICT initiatives that started way back in 1999 with the introduction of
computerised plastic driving licenses, has reached a critical mass today.
As
per the roadmap of the ICT Policy of Delhi, the government has been successful
in taking ICT across all its departments, local and autonomous bodies and to the
public. Today, the NCT of Delhi has 81 Websites for its various departments.
More citizen-centric projects are in the pipeline. Prakash Kumar, Secretary, IT
- NCT of Delhi, shared in an e-mail interview, the efforts taken and the initiatives planned by the
government, in transforming Delhi into a true cyber city.
 What
are the key IT initiatives taken by the NCT of Delhi?
The
Delhi government took up a two-prong implementation drive-computerising and
interconnecting all the departments and setting up a government-citizen
interface. All the major departments, were computerised under this initiative.
In the government-citizen interface, we introduced online application system for
all services. In 2003, MCD launched a Citizen Service Bureau titled Sugam
Kendra, a one-stop kiosk to avail all the services offered by the government.
Other projects include online registration for 11 kinds of certificates in the
DC offices and for registration of societies, online registration of vehicles,
which also allows the buyers to choose numbers, colour etc. online.
 One
of our unique initiatives in this space is development of a web-based system,
where photographs and details of missing children found in different parts of
Delhi are uploaded. This system could be accessed from anywhere and search can
be made on various parameters. This has enabled us to put information on such
children in public domain at a fraction of cost with 24x7 availability.
Which are the other focus
areas in terms of IT implementation?
We
have introduced a web-based HR Management and Finance System for Education
Department, which connects 1048 secondary/senior secondary schools of the
government. This takes care of the HR management of more than 30,000 teachers.
The
system is also being used for according financial sanctions and maintaining
database on infrastructure available in each school. It has been further
upgraded to maintain progress report of around 9 lakh students online. We have
set up computer labs in all the government schools in Delhi.
We
have not started e-procurement yet, but have a Tender Notice Information System,
a web-based software that was started in February 2003 with 350 tender issuing
authorities. Today more than 18,000 tender notices along with tender documents
are being published every year on this site. The goods and services for which
tenders are invited have been categorised into 40 odd major groups. The entire
statistics is available in the public domain for people to see as to how
government revenue is being spent and in what sectors.
What are the new initiatives
planned for 2005-06?
There
are quite a few new projects coming up in the Transport Department.
Implementation of 'SARTHI' software (a smart card-based driving license) in
all RTOs on Private Partnership Program (PPP) basis, automatic ticket dispensing
machine for all buses of Delhi Transport Corporation, Automatic Vehicle Tracking
System (AVTS) for all buses of Delhi Transport Corporation.
This
system will also have passenger information system under, which electronic
display boards will be put up at around 200 important locations including metro
stations, railway stations, airport, etc., on which information on buses on that
route will be displayed in real time.
We
are also setting up a unified call centre for all departments of government of
Delhi which will serve as a one-stop point for all queries on government
schemes, status of applications, government structure, government services,
places of tourist interest, etc.